Online & Educational Resources

Course Description

This course provides a basic overview of the Anatomy and Physiology of the human body and is designed for learners with little or no prior knowledge of biology. The materials and interactive learning activities allow for a self-paced progression though the course and each module ends with an optional quiz to assess your understanding of the materials covered. This is an excellent beginner level course and is a great way to prepare your self for either our 45 or 60-hour online credit course in Anatomy and Physiology.

Anatomy and Physiology involves the study of structures that make up the human body, while incorporating function; how the body works. A collection of approximately 100 million cells work together throughout the body in order to keep the body working normally in the midst of changing external and internal environments.

The cell is the smallest functional unit of life, each one carrying out processes to maintain homeostasis so that an organism can function normally and adapt to changes in its environment. Collections of cells form tissues, of which there are four main types: muscle, cardiac, connective and epithelial. These four types make up the various organ systems found throughout the body.

The specific processes that cells perform rely on communication over various distances. Communicating with a cell begins with the selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer, known as the cell membrane. Within the cell membrane are proteins that allow for the movement of materials into and out of the cell. This movement of material is known as diffusion. Some types of diffusion are passive, meaning energy is not required, while others are active, meaning energy is necessary to cause the movement of a substance from one area to another.

The largest organ in the body, which may be surprising to most, is in fact the skin. The skin composes a major portion of the integumentary system, which also consists of accessory structures such as hair, nails, sweat and oil glands. Collectively, the components of the integumentary system provide a first line of defense, whether it is against chemical or microorganism attack, physical impact, or abrasion. This system also provides the sensory structures for detection of touch, pressure, pain and temperature. As a result, it is an extremely important organ system with the body.

The skeletal system provides a support system for the attachment of muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues. However, there are many other important functions of the skeletal system as well, including the production of blood cells, storage of minerals, protection of internal organs and tissues as well as movement. The 206 bones found within the body are of different shapes and sizes, all possessing features designed to provide specific functions.

Three types of muscle tissue are found within the body, including skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle. All three types of muscle are made up of excitable cells, meaning they are stimulated through nerves to contract or shorten. This contraction may allow for movement, help to force blood through blood vessels, or aid in the movement of ingested materials through the digestive tract.

The nervous system can be divided into the central and peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system connects the brain to the rest of the body. Collectively, the central and peripheral nervous systems allow the body to receive information, process that information and convey commands to the body in response to the initial stimulus. Whether you are looking through binoculars, listening to music, eating a sandwich, smelling flowers or really doing anything, your nervous system is working!

The nervous system can be divided into the central and peripheral nervous systems. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system connects the brain to the rest of the body. Collectively, the central and peripheral nervous systems allow the body to receive information, process that information and convey commands to the body in response to the initial stimulus. Whether you are looking through binoculars, listening to music, eating a sandwich, smelling flowers or really doing anything, your nervous system is working!

The body requires communication from one area to another. One way to communicate is through the nervous system, which is a fast and immediate type of communication. Another form of communication is through the endocrine system. This system requires the use of hormones, which travel throughout the bloodstream to act on a target tissue. This form of communication is usually slower and longer-lasting. A hormone can work in one of two ways: through steroid action or through non-steroid action. In addition, hormones may be direct-acting or they may stimulate the release of another hormone into the blood.

The main goal of the reproductive system is to create, develop and deliver offspring. As such, the system is composed of primary and secondary reproductive organs. Primary reproductive organs are referred to as the gonads. In males, the gonads are the testes, while in females, they are the ovaries. The gonads secrete hormones and also produce gametes, being sperm and ova (or eggs). The secondary reproductive structures provide nourishment and transport routes for sexual reproduction to occur.

One of the main functions of the circulatory system is to pump blood throughout the body so that oxygen and nutrients can reach the tissues. The heart works as the pump, and is it actually considered a “double pump”, since the right side distributes blood towards the lungs for oxygenation, while the left side forces blood through the aorta so that oxygenated blood can circulate to the tissues. Blood vessels within the circulatory system include an arterial system and a venous system. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and towards tissues, while the venous system carries deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

The body requires oxygen for cellular processes to occur. The respiratory system takes in atmospheric oxygen into the lungs where blood can become oxygenated, while allowing for carbon dioxide to be exhaled and eliminated from the blood. The respiratory system also protects against invasion of foreign pathogens, helps in the production of sounds for speaking, and aids in sense of smell.

Cells within the body require a constant supply of nutrients in order to function. The digestive system breaks down ingested food into simple nutrients that can be used as cellular fuel. The digestive system is made up of a long muscular tube and several accessory structures that allows for ingestion and digestion of food. Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food occurs within the digestive tract so that nutrients can be absorbed into the bloodstream for distribution to the tissues.

The urinary system is comprised mainly of two kidneys and two ureters, a bladder and urethra. These structures allow our body to eliminate wastes and get rid of any unnecessary fluids and electrolytes. In addition to this, the urinary system also plays a large role in regulating blood volume, blood pressure and it also ensures the pH of blood falls within normal limits.

The field of microbiology focuses on studying microscopic organisms. These organisms may be unicellular, multicellular, or acellular. While many microorganisms can infect humans and cause disease, there are certain types that benefit humans, such as those found in the digestive tract. The four microorganisms involved in human disease are: protozoa, fungi, viruses and bacteria.

The human body has many ways of preventing or defending against an infection. The lymphatic system is composed of lymphatic vessels, nodules, nodes and other lymphoid tissue as well as immune cells. Collectively, these components help to defend against foreign pathogens entering from outside the body and also help to destroy cancer cells within the body. In addition to immune defenses, the lymphatic system reabsorbs fluid from the interstitium and redistributes it back to the blood in the form of lymph.

A ventral cavity consisting of the abdominal cavity (between the diaphragm and the level of the pelvic bone) and the pelvic cavity (between the top of the pelvis and pubic area). Ex. The intestines and stomach are found in the abdominopelvic cavity [top]

Abduction

movement of a limb away from the middle of the body, generally in the frontal plane. Abduction is the opposite movement to adduction. Ex. You raise your arm upwards and away from your body [top]

conversion of glucose (in the presence of oxygen) to carbon dioxide and water, producing approximately 36 ATP per glucose molecule. Can supply muscles with several hours of energy with sufficient glucose and oxygen. [top]

Shape classification of bone; Bones that do not fit into the category of long, short or flat bones, often sharing the characteristics of multiple shape categories. Ex. vertebrae, hip bones [top]

Bone (long)

Shape classification of bone; Mostly compact bone with some spongy bone shaped into a long shaft with heads at both ends. Ex. Structural support for the limbs, excluding the knee caps (patella), wrist and ankle bones. [top]

Branches of the bundle of His (AV bundle) which run along the ventricular septum and include the right, left anterior and left posterior bundle branches. These branches make up the Purkinje fibers which transmit impulses from the AV node to the ventricles of the heart. [top]

Circulates gases, nutrients and wastes via the heart, blood vessels and circulatory fluid. The circulatory fluid in animals is blood and is pumped via the vascular system with the help of the heart (the pump). [top]

Cartilage (elastic)

Consists of chondrocytes and collagenfibers with a matrix that allows the cartilage to stretch. Ex. External ear, nose [top]

body movement that combines flexion, extension, abduction and adduction to create circular motion of the distal part of the limb. This type of movement is common in ball-and-socket joints. Ex. You make small circular motions with your arm. [top]

The shell shaped turbinate bones of the nose. The conchae form ridges that cause turbulence in the air entering the nasal cavity, which allows more air to contact the mucosa and trap particles in the air. [top]

Conditioned

A change so that a response that may have been associated with one stimulus, is now associated with another [top]

Also known as a "yellow body", it is a small body that forms in the empty follicle after the release of the mature ovum. It secretes the hormoneprogesterone which maintains pregnancy but becomes inactive after 10-14 days if the ovum is not fertilized. At this point menstruation occurs. [top]

The organ of hearing and equilibrium which consists of an external ear, a middle ear and a fluid filled inner ear. The ear gathers sound vibrations and conducts them to the auditory nerve which sends impulses to the brain. [top]

Apical layer of the cutaneous membrane composed of stratified squamous epithelium. Keratinocytes produce keratin in the upper layers, while cells in the basal layer reproduce quickly to replace cells in the upper layers. [top]

body movement that increases the angle of a joint and brings to bones further apart, and is the opposite movement to flexion. Extension commonly occurs in the sagittal plane Ex. You straighten your leg at the knee such that your foot is lowered into a standing position. [top]

body movement that decreases the angle of a joint and brings two bones closer together. Common in hinge and ball-and-socket joints, and opposite to extension. Flexion commonly occurs in the sagittal plane. Ex. You bend your leg at the knee such that your foot is raised behind you [top]

Follicle

Small sacs which develop on the ovary and contain an immature ovum[top]

A staining technique used to classify bacteria as either Gram positive or Gram negative. Bacteria are first stained with gentian violet and then with Gram's solution. The bacteria are then decolourized with alcohol, washed with water and treated with Safranine. If the bacteria retain their violet colour when the process is complete they are considered Gram positive. If the bacteria show a pink colour they are considered Gram negative. [top]

The maintenance of a steady internal state despite changes in external conditions. Ex. Humans must maintain a body temperature of approximately 37 degrees Celsius for proper homeostasis [top]

Homeostatic Control Mechanisms

Mechanisms for maintaining survival needs within an acceptable range. Ex. If the homeostatic control mechanism for body temperature were not working properly in an individual, that individual would not be able to stay at an appropriate body temperature [top]

Either of the pair of bean shaped organs lying in the dorsal region of the abdominal cavity. These organsfunction to filter waste products out of the blood to produce urine and maintain electrolyte and acid-base balance. [top]

Krebs Cycle

A series of biochemical reactions where oxygen is converted into carbon dioxide and water when energy is released into the tissues through the breakdown of foods. [top]

Shape classification of bone; Mostly compact bone with some spongy bone shaped into a long shaft with heads at both ends. Ex. Structural support for the limbs, excluding the knee caps (patella), wrist and ankle bones. [top]

A group of modified epithelial cells which lie near the juxtaglomerular cells. These cells relay information on sodium concentration in the filtrate and stimulate the release of renin by the juxtaglomerular cells. [top]

Creates movement, including locomotion and facial expression. Supports the body to create posture, and produces heat during movement. Smooth, cardiac and skeletal muscles form the muscular system. [top]

The movement of a substance down its osmotic gradient from the filtrate in the nephron into the blood without the use of energy. [top]

Passive Transport

Cell transport in which the movement of substances across the cell membrane is driven by a concentration gradient and requires no energy input from the cell. Passive transport is used to move substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. Ex. Simple diffusion is a type of passive transport [top]

Occurs when blood pH between 7.0 and 7.35. It is different from acidosis because it is within the alkaline pH range, but it is "physiologically" acidic because it is more acidic than normal blood pH. [top]

Physiology

The study of the function of the body and body parts of organisms Ex. A physiological feature of the human face is that the nose and mouth are used to breathe in air and expel gaseous wastes [top]

A mixture of a dissolving fluid (the solvent) and dissolved substances (the solutes). Ex. Cytosol is a solution with water as its solvent and many dissolved solutes including salts and other ions [top]

A special sense where colour, light, shape and size is perceived through light rays being transformed into elecrical signals in the retina of the eye and transmitted by the optic nerve to the brain[top]